PLANS have been unveiled to close two primary schools to make way for a new 420-place school in Lower Broughton.

North Grecian Street Primary is one of those heading for the axe despite undergoing a major £400,000 revamp last year.

The Grecian Street North school will close alongside Charlestown Primary School, in Lissadel Street, under Salford City Council's primary school review plans.

The council's cabinet approved the proposals this week and a formal six-week consultation will begin this month.

Under the plans a new school would be built on the site of the former Wheaters Crescent housing estate in Lower Broughton Road by September 2010.

Land from Charlestown Primary School would be used for playing fields by nearby Albion High School. North Grecian Street could be sold off or reused.

Capital receipts from the sale of education assets would help pay for the new development. With new homes being built in the area, schools bosses believe they may need to design the school so it can be extended in future if pupil numbers rise.

Some parents fear the new school will be too far from pupils' homes.

Carole Woodward, whose nine-year-old daughter Emma goes to North Grecian Street Primary, said: "I think it's a real shame. We've got a really good school and it's not long since it had a big refurbishment.

"The new school will be a bit far for people who live near the Charlestown school. Grecian Street school has got a lot of history behind it and was used in the war. There aren't many buildings like it left and I think it's a valuable building worth saving."

The Secretary of State's approval and consideration by the schools' adjudicator will be needed before the plans can go ahead. A final decision on the proposals is not expected before February 2008.

Councillor John Warmisham, lead member for education, said: "This proposal marks only the beginning of this process, and we will listen carefully to views we receive during the public consultation.

"We have an excellent opportunity to provide brand new school facilities in just a few years time at the heart of an area undergoing significant regeneration, and we don't want to miss that opportunity."